Secularism, communalism, fundamentalism

Theoretical overview

COMMUNALISM

Communalism is an ideology which states that society is divided into religious communities whose interest differ and are, at times, even opposed to each other

It consists of three elements:

1. A belief that people, who follow the same religion, have common secular interests, i.e., they have same political, economic and social interests. So, here socio-political communalities arises.
2. A notion that, in a multi-religious society like India, these common secular interests of one religion are dissimilar and divergent from the interests of the follower of another religion.
3. The interests of the follower of the different religion or of different communities’ are seen to be completely incompatible, antagonist and hostile.

T.K. Oommen (1989) has suggested six dimensions of communalism-assimilationist, welfarist, retreatist, retaliatory. separatist, and secessionist.

 Assimilationist communalism is one in which small religious groups are assimilated/integrated into a big religious group. Such communalism claims that Scheduled Tribes are Hindus, or that Jains, Sikhs and Buddhists are Hindus and they should be covered by the Hindu Marriage Act. 

Welfarist communalism aims at the welfare of a particular community, say, improving living standard and providing for education and health of Christians by the Christian associations, or Parsi associations working for the uplift of the Parsis. Such communal mobilisation aims at working only for the members of one’s own community.

Retreatist communalism is one in which a small religious community keeps itself away from politics, for example, Bahai community, which forbids its members from participating in political activities.

Retaliatory communalism attempts to harm, hurt, and injure the members of other religious communities.

Separatist communalism is one in which one religious or a cultural group wants to maintain its cultural specificity and demands a separate territorial state within the country, for example, the demand of Mizos and Nagas in north-east India or Bodos in Assam, or of Jharkhand tribals in Bihar, or of Gorkhas for Gorakhaland in West Bengal, or of hill people for Uttrakhand in Uttar Pradesh, or of Vidharbha in Maharashtra.

Lastly, secessionist communalism is one in which a religious community wants a separate political identity and demands an independent state. A very small militant section of Sikh community demanding Khalistan or some Muslim militants demanding independent Kashmir were engaged in practising this type of communalism. Of these six types of communalism, the last three create problems engendering agitations, communal riots, terrorism and insurgency.

Communalism in India

The pluralistic society of India is composed not only of religious groups such as Hindus (82.41%), Muslims (12.12%), Christians (2.40% ), Sikhs (1.94%) and others, but these groups are further divided into various subgroups. Hindus are divided into sects-Arya Samajis, shaiv, sanatan, and vaisnavas while Muslims are divided into Shiah and Sunnis on the one hand and Ashrafs (aristrocrates), Azlafs (lower class casts) and Arzals on the other. The strained relation between Hindus and Muslims have existed for a long time, whereas some Hindus and Sikhs have started viewing each other with suspicion only for the last fifteen years or so. Although in one state in south India, we now hear of some conflicts between Hindus and  christians and muslims.

Fundamentalism

When  a  religion  becomes  narrow  and  self-serving  and  loses  the  spirit  to  co-exist  with  other religious that is the situation of fundamentalism. They become untolerable to other religions to the extent that they start to harm other religion.

Characteristics of Fundamentalism

1. Fundamentalists are counter-modernist: Fundamentalism manifests itself as an attempt by “besieged believers” to find their refuge in arming themselves with an identity that is rooted in a past golden age. And this identity is acted out in “an attempt to restore that “golden past”.
2. Generally assertive, clamorous, and often violent. These are the characteristics of fundamentalists given by Pataki. But all the invaders, whether they belong to fundamentalism or communism, do it in the same manner to expand their thought and regime.
3. Fundamentalists are “the Chosen”, “the Elect”, “the Saved“. And as such, they are “privileged” or “burdened” with a special mission on behalf of their deity and for the benefit of the world.
4. Public marks of distinction are needed to maintain them sense of superiority and distinctive identity. Not only for the purpose of maintaining that distinctive identity, but also as “part of the narcissistic struggle to be considered unique and special.”

SECULARISATION

According to M. H. Srinivas, “the term ‘secularisation implies that what was previously regarded as religious is now ceasing to be such and it also implies a process of differentiation which results in the various aspects of society-economic, political, legal and moral, becoming increasingly discrete in relation to each other.” Thus, secularisation is opposed to religionism. In other words, as  . Many religious practices and ceremonial rituals which once marked the individual and social life of the Indian people, have now been abandoned by them. It is not only the cities wherein secularisation may be seen at work, the villages too are getting secularised. The place of religion has definitely diminished in our daily life. The celebration of birth, marriage and death ceremonies and festivals is not now marked by all the old rituals. A number of these rituals are no longer performed. The influence of secularisation on Hinduism is greater than on other religions.

Features of Secularisation:

1. Decrease of Religionism: As remarked above, the growth of secularisation implies decrease of religionism. In the Hindu society due to the decreasing influence of religion on the various aspects of life, secularisation is making greater impact.
2. Differentiation: The growth of secularisation leads to differentiation in the different aspects of social life. Thus, in modern society the economic, political, legal and ethical questions are separated from each other. 
3. Rationality: Rationality is another mark of secularisation. The problems facing the human beings, are now subjected to explanations and rational solutions are sought for them. The cold customs and traditions are followed by an educated person only if they make a rational appeal to him.
4. Scientific Attitude : Another feature of secularisation is the scientific discoveries which have shaken the faith of the people in several old religious beliefs and activities. Scientific explanations have replaced the religious explanations for many natural events and social phenomena.

Points to remember

• Communalism is an ideology which states that society is divided into religious communities whose interest differ and are, at times, even opposed to each other.
• When  a  religion  becomes  narrow  and  self-serving  and  loses  the  spirit  to  co-exist  with  other religious that is the situation of fundamentalism. They become untolerable to other religions to the extent that they start to harm other religion.
• ‘secularisation implies that what was previously regarded as religious is now ceasing to be such and it also implies a process of differentiation which results in the various aspects of society-economic, political, legal and moral, becoming increasingly discrete in relation to each other.” Thus, secularisation is opposed to religionism.